Device for Determining and Adjusting Transfer Voltage in an Imaging Apparatus and a Method Thereof

ABSTRACT

A device and method for determining and applying a transfer voltage in an imaging apparatus is provided. A servo voltage is determined based in part upon a change in an environmental condition. A determination is made whether or not to perform a new transfer servo operation based upon at least one of an amount of time passing since the last transfer servo operation was performed and a comparison of the determined servo voltage and a servo voltage used in a prior transfer servo operation. A transfer servo operation includes charging a photoconductive drum to a charge corresponding to a printing voltage.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of Application Ser.No. 61/333,724 filed May 11, 2010, entitled “Device for Determining andAdjusting Transfer Voltage in an Imaging Apparatus and a MethodThereof,” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a device for transferringtoner image from a photoconductive drum to a recording sheet in animaging apparatus, and particularly to a device for determining andadjusting a transfer voltage in the imaging apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In electro-photographic printing process, toner is transferred from aphotoconductive drum to another media by bringing the media in contactwith a toner image on the photoconductive drum. Then a voltage (alsoknown as transfer voltage) is applied between the photoconductive drumand the media that causes toner that is charged to move from surface ofthe photoconductive drum to surface of the media. This transfer of thetoner from the photoconductive drum to the media takes place either by asingle transfer or a dual transfer. In a single transfer system, themedia is most frequently paper. In a dual transfer system, the firsttransfer is from the photoconductive drum to an intermediate media, forexample, an intermediate transfer belt, and the second transfer is fromthe intermediate media to print media.

The transfer voltage that is required for efficient transfer of thetoner depends on number of factors that vary in the printing process.These factors include environmental temperature and humidity, paperresistivity, transfer roller resistivity, photoconductive drumthickness, etc. If the transfer voltage is either too high or too low,this leads to poor transfer of the toner from the photoconductive drumto the print media. In order to determine a proper setting for thetransfer voltage, a sequence of measurements of voltages is done at thebeginning of a print job. This sequence of measurements of the voltagesis called a transfer servo process.

The transfer servo process comprises a number of sequential steps.Through these sequential steps, a range of voltages are applied to atransfer nip being formed between the photoconductive drum and atransfer roller that is positioned opposite to the photoconductive drum.Thereafter, a current resulting from the application of the voltages istested to see if the resulting current is greater than or less than atarget current level. The target current level is typically eight microamps. A primary object of applying a range of voltages is to find aservo voltage that produces a current that most nearly matches thetarget current level. Once the servo voltage is found, it is furtherused to determine the transfer voltage.

Since a broad range of voltages needs to be investigated, therefore, acoarse search is first done to determine an approximate servo voltagefollowed by a fine search to refine the determination of the servovoltage. The coarse search starts with a low voltage and voltage is thenincreased in large voltage steps until the target current level isexceeded. Then, the fine search is performed that starts at a voltagethat is below the last coarse voltage and the voltage is increased insmall voltage steps until the target current level is exceeded. Thecoarse search typically includes up to 40 voltage steps and the finesearch typically includes up to ten voltage steps, where each step takesabout 25 milliseconds. The time to do the resulting search, i.e., coarsesearch and the fine search is variable and can take up to 1.25 seconds.For a printer running at 50 pages per minute, the coarse search and thefine search would take place over about 4 photoconductive drumrevolutions. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the number ofphotoconductive drum revolutions that take place outside of actualprinting of a page. Reducing photoconductive drum revolutions outside ofactual printing, results in longer life of the cartridges and themachines, along with a better print quality.

Additionally, the calculation of transfer voltage includes only oneinput, the servo voltage. The servo voltage responds proportionally tothe resistance of the transfer nip. While the servo voltage serves as aleading indicator for optimum transfer voltage for the efficienttransfer of the toner, there are a number of other indicators previouslymentioned that affect the optimum transfer voltage. It is desirable toinclude such factors in the calculation of the transfer voltage. Thiswould result in a more efficient estimate of the optimum transfervoltage given the availability of more information about the system.

Thus, there is a need to provide an apparatus and an algorithm forperforming the transfer servo process, i.e., a process for thedetermination of the transfer voltage that will take less time andprovide a more accurate determination of the transfer voltage that isneeded for the efficient toner transfer at either the first or thesecond transfer. Additionally, there is a need to reduce the number ofdrum revolutions during this process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments address the shortcomings described above andthereby satisfy a significant need for performing transfer servooperations in an electrophotographic imaging device. In accordance withan exemplary embodiment, there is disclosed a member bearing a tonerimage; a transfer roller positioned adjacent to the member forming atransfer nip therewith; a voltage generator disposed proximally to thetransfer roller for applying a voltage thereto; and a controllercommunicatively coupled to the member, the transfer roller, and thevoltage generator, for transferring the toner image from the member to arecording medium. The controller executes instructions for detecting acondition within the imaging device; determining a servo voltage basedon the detected condition; controlling the voltage generator to applythe servo voltage to the transfer roller and measuring a servo current;determining a transfer voltage based on the servo current measured;applying the transfer voltage to the transfer roller during an imagetransfer operation; measuring transfer current in the transfer nipduring one or more inter-page gaps of the image transfer operation; andadjusting the transfer voltage based upon the measured transfer currentto create an adjusted transfer voltage. By determining and adjusting thetransfer voltage in this way, a substantial amount of time is saved.

In addition, the member may be a photoconductive drum and the voltagegenerator applies a charge to the photoconductive drum surfacecorresponding to a printing voltage when the servo voltage is applied tothe transfer roller. Further, the controller may determine the transfervoltage based upon a previously measured transfer current. Stillfurther, instead of regularly performing a servo transfer operation, thecontroller may decide whether a new servo transfer operation is to beperformed in part by comparing the determined servo voltage with apreviously determined servo voltage. In making such a decision, thecontroller may decide whether a new servo voltage is to be determined inpart based upon at least one of an occurrence of a power-on-resetoperation by the imaging apparatus, a cover of the imaging device beingopened and the imaging device substantially continuously printing or notprinting for at least a predetermined period of time.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe detailed description that follows, and in part will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognizedby practicing the invention as described herein, including the detaileddescription that follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present embodiments of theinvention and are intended to provide an overview or framework forunderstanding the nature and character of the invention as it isclaimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitutea part of this specification. The drawings illustrate variousembodiments of the invention and together with the description serve toexplain the principles and operation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the variousembodiments of the invention and the manner of attaining them willbecome more apparent and will be better understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates general elements of an imaging apparatus involved intransferring a toner image from a photoconductive drum to a recordingmedium utilizing features or operations in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an imaging apparatus having a twostep image transfer and incorporating operations in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system used in the imagingapparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart demonstrating the execution of a first transferservo algorithm according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart demonstrating the execution of a second transferservo algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiment(s) ofthe invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wheneverpossible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates general elements of an imaging apparatus fortransferring a toner image from a photoconductive drum 10 to a recordingmedium 12 by utilizing aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The photoconductive drum 10 rotates in a direction 14 (i.e.,clockwise, but could also operate in the other direction if the imagingapparatus were so designed). Also shown are a charge member 16, adeveloper roll 18, and a transfer roller 20. The charge member 16, thedeveloper roll 18, and the transfer roller 20 are arranged along thedirection 14 of rotation of the photoconductive drum 10. The transferroller 20 rotates in a direction 22 that is opposite to the direction 14of rotation of the photoconductive drum (i.e., counter clockwise asillustrated).

During an image transfer operation, the photoconductive drum 10 ischarged to a voltage by charge member 16. A laser scan unit or the like43 directs light incident to the surface of the photoconductive drum 10which creates an electrostatic latent image thereon. Toner fromdeveloper roll 18 is applied by electrostatic attraction to the area ofthe photoconductive drum 10 developing the latent image. The transferroller 20 being positioned adjacent to the photoconductive drum 10 formsa transfer nip 24 therewith. The recording medium 12, whether anintermediate transfer member or a sheet of media or a sheet of mediadisposed on a transport belt, travels in a direction 26. A voltage isapplied to transfer roller 20 by a voltage generator 28. The appliedvoltage is such that when the medium 12 passes through the transfer nip24, the toner image from the photoconductive drum 10 is transferred tothe medium 12. A transfer servo method is used to determine the transfervoltage to be applied to the transfer roller 20 for this toner transferprocess.

A temperature and relative humidity (T&RH) sensor 30 is provided to readthe environmental condition, i.e., temperature and relative humidity(T&RH) under which the imaging apparatus is operating. Ananalog-to-digital converter 32 is provided to measure the transfercurrent at the transfer nip 24. Both the T&RH sensor 30 and theanalog-to-digital converter 32 are in communication with a controller34. The controller 34 generally controls the operation of the imagingapparatus. Further, the imaging apparatus may include memory, such as avolatile memory 36 and nonvolatile memory 38. Nonvolatile memory 38 mayinclude program instructions for execution by the controller 34. Thecontroller 34 is also in communication with the voltage generator 28 forcontrolling same. The voltage generator 28 applies the transfer voltageto the transfer roller 20 corresponding to control input from thecontroller 34.

FIG. 2 illustrates an imaging apparatus 40 that shows a two-steptransfer of the toner image from the photoconductive drum 10 to a sheetof media utilizing aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Imaging apparatus 40 includes four independent imaging units44 for printing with cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner to produce acolor image. Each imaging unit 44 includes the charge member 16, thedeveloper roll 18, and the photoconductive drum 10. The charge member 16charges the surface of the photoconductive drum 10 to a specifiedvoltage, such as −1000 volts. A laser beam from a laser scan unit 43contacts the surface of each photoconductive drum 10 and dischargesthose areas it contacts to form a latent image. The developer roll 18serves to develop toner into the latent image on the photoconductor(10). The toner particles are attracted to the areas of thephotoconductive drum 10 surface discharged by the laser beam from thelaser scan unit 43. Each of the four photoconductive drums 10 ispositioned opposite a corresponding independent transfer roller 20 suchthat four independent first transfer nips 24 are formed therewith.

It is understood that each imaging unit 44 operates substantiallyindependently from the other imaging units 44. Accordingly, each imagingunit 44 uses its own independently determined transfer servo voltage andtransfer voltage for use in effectuating transfer of toner by theimaging unit 44. It is understood, then, that any discussion herein ofindependently determining, applying and/or adjusting a transfer voltagefor transferring a toner image by one imaging unit 44 may also equallyapply to the other imaging units 44.

An intermediate transfer member 46 is disposed adjacent to each of theimaging units 44. In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer member46 is formed as an endless belt disposed about support roller 48,tension roller 50 and back-up roller 52. During image formingoperations, the intermediate transfer member 46 moves relative to theimaging units 44. Each of one or more of the photoconductive drums 10applies toner images in its respective color to the intermediatetransfer member 46 as the intermediate transfer member 46 is passedthrough the corresponding transfer nip 24. This transfer of the tonerimages from the photoconductive drums 10 to the intermediate transfermember 46 is known as a first transfer and takes place at a firsttransfer voltage. As mentioned above, the transfer voltage used by eachimaging unit 44 during the first transfer is independently determined.

The toner images collected by the intermediate transfer member 46 arethen transferred to a media sheet at a second transfer station. Thesecond transfer station includes back-up roller 52 and a second transferroller 54 to form a second transfer nip 56 therewith. The transfer ofthe toner images from the intermediate transfer member 46 to the mediasheet is known as the second transfer and takes place at a secondtransfer voltage that is applied between the second transfer roller 54and the transfer backup roller (52).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of electrical control for transfer of thetoner image from the photoconductive drums 10 to the sheet of mediadescribed in FIG. 2. Shown in FIG. 3 are the controller 34, T&RH sensor30, analog-to-digital converter 32 (which may be implemented as morethan one analog-to-digital converter for performing multiple conversionsin parallel), and a transfer module 58. Controller 34 generally controlsthe overall operation of the imaging apparatus. The controller 34executes program instructions for executing a first transfer servoalgorithm and a second transfer servo algorithm to determine the firsttransfer voltage and the second transfer voltage, respectively. Thecontroller 34 receives the environmental conditions as detected by theT&RH sensor 30. The transfer module 58 includes the image forming units44 for effectuating the first transfer and rollers 52 and 54 foreffectuating the second transfer. The analog-to-digital converter 32digitizes current samples received from transfer nips 24 and 56. Thedigitized current samples are then sent to the controller 34. Thecontroller 34 controls the voltage generator 28 to apply servo voltagesand transfer voltages to the transfer module 58.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an improvedtransfer servo method is used for determining the transfer voltages atwhich the toner image is to be transferred during a print operation.This transfer servo method may be used in transferring a toner image ina one step transfer system in which a toner image is transferred from aphotoconductive drum 10 directly to a sheet of media, or in a two steptransfer system as in FIG. 2 in which a toner image is transferred froma photoconductive drum 10 to the intermediate transfer member 46 in afirst transfer and from the intermediate transfer member 46 to a sheetof media in a second transfer. With respect to a two step transfersystem, a determination of a transfer voltage may be performed usingthis method for each of the two transfer steps.

The T&RH sensor 30 reads temperature and/or relative humidity underwhich the imaging apparatus is operating. Environmental conditionschange the conductivity of the transfer rollers, the intermediatetransfer member 46 and media sheets and thus may have a significanteffect on the selection of the transfer voltage to be used in a printoperation. Given the T&RH sensor readings and other information that isavailable about the next print job, such as print speed and/or media(paper) type, the controller 34 independently determines for eachimaging unit 44 and second transfer nip 56 a servo voltage to be appliedto produce a servo current.

The servo voltage calculation for the first image transfer (i.e., fromany photoconductive drum 10) may be based upon the operatingtemperature, relative humidity, print speed, the charge voltage andthickness of the photoconductive drum 10, media type (for a single steptransfer system) and/or whether the print operation is simplex or duplex(for a single step transfer system). The servo voltage calculation forthe second image transfer in a two step transfer system of FIG. 2 (fromthe intermediate transfer member 46 to a sheet of media) may be basedupon factors such as temperature, relative humidity, print speed, mediatype and whether the print operation is simplex or duplex mode.

After the servo voltage is determined, the controller 34 applies thedetermined servo voltage to the particular transfer roller to obtain aservo current. The analog-to-digital converter 32 measures the servocurrent. Then, on the basis of the servo current measured, a resistanceof the corresponding transfer nip is determined. Finally, the controller34 determines the transfer voltage based on the resistance of thecorresponding transfer nip and/or other parameters like temperature,relative humidity, servo voltage, and a previously measured transfercurrent. The transfer voltage for a first transfer (i.e., from anyphotoconductive drum 10 to an intermediate transfer member 46 or a sheetof media) thus may be based upon the operating temperature, relativehumidity, print speed, the charge voltage and/or thickness of thephotoconductive drum 10, the servo voltage, media type (in the case of asingle transfer to a sheet of media) whether the operation is for asimplex or duplex printing (also for the case of single transfer to asheet of media), and/or the measured servo current. The transfer voltagefor a second transfer (from the intermediate transfer member 46 to asheet of media) may be based upon similar factors, such as operatingtemperature, relative humidity, print speed, the servo voltage, mediatype, whether the operation is for a simplex or duplex operation and/orthe measured servo current.

With the transfer voltage determined, the controller 34 controls thevoltage generator 28 to apply the determined transfer voltage to thecorresponding transfer roller (20 or 54). This application of thetransfer voltage to the transfer roller facilitates the toner transferfrom a photoconductive drum 10 (in the case of a single transfer systemor a first transfer of a two-step transfer system) or the intermediatetransfer member 46 (in the case of the second transfer of the two-steptransfer system).

The charge voltage of the surface of the photoconductive drum 10influences current measured during the transfer servo process.Presently, the photoconductive charge voltage is set to a fixed value,typically about −400 v, so that the current measurement could beperformed against a known charge voltage. Since the charge roller 16 islocated on the other side of the photoconductive drum 10, switching thecharge voltage to this fixed level results in an additional revolutionof the photoconductive drum 10 in the transfer servo process. It takesabout one half of a revolution to bring the −400 v charged area of thephotoconductive drum 10 around to the transfer nip 24 and another onehalf revolution to subsequently charge the photoconductive drum 10 to aprint voltage. In the improved transfer servo method according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention, the servo currentmeasurement is performed with the charge voltage of the photoconductivedrum 10 set to its print voltage to save this extra revolution. This canbe compensated for in the empirical equation used for determining thetransfer voltage since the measured servo current is proportional to thedifference between the servo voltage and the charge voltage of thephotoconductive drum 10, both of which are known.

Once the transfer servo process has finished and the transfer voltage isset, there is less need for another servo measurement for print jobsthat follow soon after the current print job because environmentalconditions generally do not change rapidly. A new transfer servo processmay be performed when a new print job is submitted and the determinedservo voltage differs relatively significantly from the previouslydetermined servo voltage, such as due to a significant change in anenvironmental condition or a significant lapse in time since theprevious print job. The new transfer servo process may also be performedif the cover of the imaging apparatus had been opened or upon theoccurrence of a power-on-reset (POR) condition. An algorithm may be usedto decide whether a new transfer servo operation, and thus a newtransfer voltage, is necessary. Whether to perform a new transfer servoprocess thus may be based upon the elapsed period of time since the lasttransfer servo operation, a change in the determined servo voltageexceeding a predetermined threshold amount, the occurrence of a PORevent, and/or the cover of the imaging apparatus being opened.

When a large number of pages are printed, the operating temperature ofan imaging apparatus tends to increase and cause a drift in the transfervoltage needed for an acceptable transfer of the toner image. Presently,a new transfer servo process may be performed if the imaging apparatusis operating for longer than about ten minutes without performing atransfer servo process. An improved transfer servo method, in accordancewith exemplary embodiments of the present invention, includes measuringa plurality of currents during inter-page gaps between successive mediasheets using the analog-to-digital converter 32. Because no toner istransferred during an inter-page gap, toner-related current will notinfluence the measurement of the transfer current. Measurements from thelast n pages, where n is a predetermined number, are then used tocalculate an adjustment to the transfer voltage. The adjustment of thetransfer voltage for first transfer (from photoconductive drum 10 tointermediate transfer member 46 or directly to a sheet of media) thusmay be based upon the operating temperature, relative humidity, printspeed, the charge voltage and thickness of the photoconductive drum 10,the simplex/duplex print mode (for a single transfer system) and/or theinter-page gap transfer currents corresponding to the last n pages. Theadjustment of the transfer voltage for a second transfer (from theintermediate transfer member 46 to a sheet of media) may be based uponthe operating temperature, relative humidity, print speed, thesimplex/duplex print mode, and/or the inter-page gap transfer currentscorresponding to the last n pages.

In a transfer nip where toner is being transferred to a sheet of media,such as paper, a significant resistance to the flow of current mayoccur. If the current is not controlled during an inter-page gap, a highcurrent can be possibly injected into the photoconductive drum 10 (for aone step transfer system) or the intermediate transfer member 46 (for atwo step transfer system). This higher current can result in a “ghost”being produced on the photoconductive drum 10 or intermediate transfermember 46. The inter-page gap transfer voltage is typically selected tohave a single value for all conditions. Ideally the inter-page gapvoltage would produce substantially the same current flow as the currentproduced for the preceding page. However, this is difficult with use ofa single value for the inter-page gap transfer voltage. In accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, currentmeasurement using the analog-to-digital converter 32 could be used inconjunction with closed loop control to monitor the current flow duringprinting of the preceding page, and then controller 34 may dynamicallyadjust the inter-page gap voltage to provide substantially the samecurrent. Such inter-page gap voltage control has been seen tosubstantially reduce or otherwise eliminate the ghost produced on thephotoconductive drum 10 or intermediate transfer member 46 during theinter-page gap.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating execution of a first transfer servoalgorithm to independently determine and apply a first transfer voltageto each individual transfer nip 24 at which a toner image is transferredfrom the corresponding photoconductive drum 10 to a sheet of media (fora one step transfer system) or the intermediate transfer member 46 (fora two step transfer system) according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. The first transfer servo algorithm is described belowrelative to a single imaging unit 44 but it is understood that thealgorithm may be separately and independently used for each imaging unit44.

The algorithm is exercised before the printing of every page, but atransfer servo is typically only done at the beginning of a print job.Initially, at block S100 a command is received by the controller 34 forprinting page n. At block S102, the T&RH sensor 30 measures temperatureand relative humidity. At block S104, with the temperature and humidityreadings and other information that is available about the next printjob (print speed, media type, etc.), the controller 34 calculates afirst servo voltage Vs(n) for the imaging unit 44. The first servovoltage Vs(n) is determined such that it produces in the image formingunit 44 a current flow at the corresponding first transfer nip 24between the photoconductive drum 10 and the first transfer roller 20.The first servo voltages Vs(n) may be determined based upon temperature,relative humidity, and/or the charge voltage and thickness of thephotoconductive drums 10. At block S106, the controller 34 determineswhether a new transfer servo operation is desired. As explained above,whether to perform a new transfer servo operation may be based on thetime elapsed since last servo voltage measurement for the imaging unit44, the difference between a most recently calculated first servovoltage Vs(n) and a previously determined servo voltage Vs(n−1) for theimaging unit 44, the existence of a POR event, and/or the cover of theimage forming apparatus being opened. If the controller 34 determinesthat a new transfer servo operation is desired, at block S108 thecontroller 34 controls the voltage generator 28 to apply the first servovoltage Vs(n) to the transfer roller 20 of the imaging unit 44. At blockS110, a servo current Is(n) resulting from the application of the firstservo voltage Vs(n) to the first transfer roller 20 of the imaging unit44 is measured by the analog-to-digital converter 32. At block S112, thecontroller 34 calculates the first transfer voltage Vx(n) for theimaging unit 44 based on the temperature and relative humidity, printspeed, the charge voltage of the photoconductive drum 10, the servocurrent Is(n) and/or average thereof, and/or the previously measuredtransfer current Ix(n−1).

At block S114, the controller 34 controls the voltage generator 28 toapply the first transfer voltage Vx(n) to the transfer roller 20 of theimaging unit 44 in order to transfer the toner image from thecorresponding photoconductive drum 10. The application of the firsttransfer voltage Vx(n) may result in the transfer of the toner imagefrom photoconductive drum 10 to the intermediate transfer member 46 orsheet of media (for a one step transfer system).

Alternatively, if the controller 34 decides a new transfer servooperation is not required, at block S116 the controller 34 uses thepreviously determined first transfer voltage Vx(n−1) as the firsttransfer voltage Vx(n) for the imaging unit 44.

At block S118, during the inter page gap the transfer current Ix(n) atthe transfer nip 24 of the imaging unit 44 is measured. The transfercurrent Ix(n) is measured during an inter-page gap so there issubstantially no toner-related current to influence the currentmeasurement. A plurality of transfer currents Ix(n) are obtained at thefirst transfer voltage Vx(n) at transfer nip 24 of imaging unit 44. Atblock S120, the currents are averaged to obtain average transfer currentIx(n) for the imaging unit 44. Further, a running average current Ix(n)is calculated by using following equation.

Running average Ix(n)=w*Ix(n)+(1−w)*Ix(n−1),

where w is a weight assigned to current Ix(n). The weight w may beencoded in the software executed by controller 34 and determined byexperimental testing. The average transfer current Ix(n) and/or runningaverage transfer current Ix(n) for the last m pages may be used to makean adjustment to the first transfer voltage Vx(n) of the imaging unit44.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating execution of a second transfer servoalgorithm to determine and apply a second transfer voltage at which thetoner image previously transferred to the intermediate transfer member46 is transferred to a sheet of media according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. At block S122, a print command isreceived by the controller 34. At block S124, T&RH sensor 30 measuresthe temperature and relative humidity. At block S126, with thetemperature and relative humidity readings and other information that isavailable about the next print job (print speed, media type, whether themedia path is simplex/duplex, etc.), the controller 34 calculates asecond servo voltage Vs(n) for the transfer roller 54. The second servovoltage Vs(n) is determined such that a current, flows between theback-up roller 52 and the transfer roller 54 in an absence of any mediasheet in the transfer nip 56. The second servo voltage Vs(n) thus may bedetermined based upon temperature, relative humidity, print speed.

At block S128, the controller 34 decides whether a new second transfervoltage Vx(n) is desired. This decision is based on the time elapsedsince last transfer servo operation, the difference between thecurrently calculated second servo voltage Vs(n) and the previouslydetermined second servo voltage Vs(n−1), whether the cover of theimaging apparatus was opened, and/or whether a POR event occurred. Ifthe controller 34 decides a new transfer servo operation is desired, atblock S130 the controller 34 applies the second servo voltage Vs(n)calculated in block S126 to the transfer roller 54. At block S132, asecond servo current Is(n) resulting from application of the secondservo voltage to the transfer roller 54 is measured. At block S134, thecontroller 34 calculates the second transfer voltage Vx(n) based on thetemperature and relative humidity, media type, whether the media path issimplex or duplex mode, the second servo current Is(n) and/or theaverage thereof, and/or a previously measured second transfer currentIx(n−1).

At block S136, the controller 34 applies the determined second transfervoltage Vx(n) to the transfer roller 54 to effectuate transfer of thetoner image. The application of the second transfer voltage Vx(n)results in the transfer of the toner image from the intermediatetransfer member 46 to the sheet of media. Alternatively, if thecontroller 34 decides that a new transfer servo operation is notrequired, at block S138 the controller 34 applies the previouslydetermined second transfer voltage Vx(n−1) as the current secondtransfer voltage Vx(n).

At block S140, transfer current Ix(n) is measured at the second nip 56.This current Ix(n) is measured during one or more inter-page gaps sothere is substantially no toner-related current to influence themeasurement of the transfer current Ix(n). A plurality of transfercurrents Ix(n) may be obtained. At block S142, the measured transfercurrents are averaged to obtain an average transfer current Ix(n).Further, a running average transfer current Ix(n) may be calculatedusing the running average equation above. The average transfer currentIx(n) and the running average transfer current Ix(n) for the last mpages may be used to make an adjustment to the second transfer voltageVx(n) for a subsequent transfer operation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method for determining and applying a transfer voltage for use inan imaging apparatus having a member bearing a toner image, a transferroller positioned adjacent to the member forming a transfer niptherewith, the method comprising: detecting a condition associated withan imaging apparatus; determining a servo voltage based on the conditiondetected; applying the servo voltage to the transfer roller andmeasuring a servo current in the transfer nip; determining a transfervoltage based on the servo current; applying the transfer voltage to thetransfer roller during an image transfer operation by the imagingapparatus; measuring transfer current in the transfer nip during one ormore inter-page gaps of the image transfer operation; and adjusting thetransfer voltage based upon the measured transfer current to create anadjusted transfer voltage.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the membercomprises a photoconductive drum and applying the servo voltage andmeasuring the servo current are done with the photoconductor surfacecharged to a printing voltage.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thetransfer voltage is determined based upon a previously measured transfercurrent.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising deciding,following determining a servo voltage, whether a new transfer voltage isto be determined.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the decidingcomprises comparing the determined servo voltage with a previouslydetermined servo voltage.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the decidingis based upon at least one of an occurrence of a power-on-resetoperation by the imaging apparatus, a cover of the imaging apparatusbeing opened and the imaging apparatus substantially continuouslyprinting for at least a predetermined period of time.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising, during an inter-page gap of the imagetransfer operation, changing the applied transfer voltage to aninter-page gap voltage to produce a current in the transfer nip duringthe inter-page gap that is substantially the same as the transfercurrent when a sheet of paper is in the transfer nip.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the transfer current measured comprises a plurality oftransfer current measurements and the adjusted transfer voltage is basedupon an average of the transfer current measurements.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the transfer current measured comprises a plurality oftransfer current measurements and the adjusted transfer voltage is basedupon a running average of the transfer current measurements.
 10. Animaging device, comprising: a member bearing a toner image; a transferroller positioned adjacent to the member forming a transfer niptherewith; a voltage generator disposed proximally to the transferroller for applying a voltage thereto; a controller communicativelycoupled to the member, the transfer roller, and the voltage generator,for transferring the toner image from the member to a recording medium,the controller executing instructions for detecting a condition withinthe imaging device; determining a servo voltage based on the detectedcondition; controlling the voltage generator to apply the servo voltageto the transfer roller and measuring a servo current; determining atransfer voltage based on the servo current measured; applying thetransfer voltage to the transfer roller during an image transferoperation; measuring transfer current in the transfer nip during one ormore inter-page gaps of the image transfer operation; and adjusting thetransfer voltage based upon the measured transfer current to create anadjusted transfer voltage.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein themember comprises a photoconductive drum and the voltage generatorapplies a charge to the photoconductive drum surface corresponding to aprinting voltage when the servo voltage is applied to the transferroller.
 12. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller determinesthe transfer voltage based upon a previously measured transfer current.13. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller decides, followingthe determining the servo voltage, whether a new servo voltage is to bedetermined.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the controller decideswhether a new transfer voltage is to be determined in part by comparingthe determined servo voltage with a previously determined servo voltage.15. The device of claim 13, wherein the controller decides whether a newservo voltage is to be determined in part based upon at least one of anoccurrence of a power-on-reset operation by the imaging apparatus, acover of the imaging device being opened and the imaging devicesubstantially continuously printing for at least a predetermined periodof time.
 16. The device of claim 10, wherein during an inter-page gap,the controller controls the voltage generator to change the appliedtransfer voltage to a predetermined inter-page gap voltage to produce acurrent in the transfer nip during the inter-page gap that issubstantially the same as the transfer current when a sheet of media isin the transfer nip.
 17. The device of claim 10, wherein the transfercurrent measured comprises a plurality of transfer current measurementsand the adjusted transfer voltage is based upon at least one of anaverage of the transfer current measurements and a running averagethereof.
 18. An imaging device, comprising: a member bearing a tonerimage; a transfer roller positioned adjacent to the member forming atransfer nip therewith; a voltage generator disposed proximally to thetransfer roller for applying a voltage thereto; and a controllercommunicatively coupled to the member, the transfer roller and thevoltage generator for transferring the toner image from the member to arecording medium, the controller executing instructions for: determininga servo voltage for performing a transfer servo operation; determiningwhether a new transfer servo operation is to be performed, thedetermination being based upon at least one of a predetermined period oftime lapsing since a last transfer servo operation was performed and acomparison of the determined servo voltage with a servo voltage used inthe last transfer servo operation; upon an affirmative determinationthat a new transfer servo operation is to be performed, controlling thevoltage generator to apply the determined servo voltage to the transferroller and measure a servo current; determining a transfer voltage basedon the servo current measured; and applying the transfer voltage to thetransfer roller during an image transfer operation.
 19. The imagingdevice of claim 18, wherein the member comprises a photoconductive drumand the controller controls the voltage generator to apply a charge tothe photoconductive drum surface corresponding to a printing voltageprior to the servo voltage being applied to the transfer roller.
 20. Theimaging device of claim 18, wherein the controller executes instructionsfor measuring a transfer current during one or more inter-page gaps ofthe image transfer operation, and adjusting the transfer voltage basedupon the measured transfer current.
 21. The imaging device of claim 18,wherein the controller determines the servo voltage based upon anenvironmental condition under which the imaging device is operating.